RAW 2016/02/01: Dean Ambrose is The Iron Man of the WWE

Dean Ambrose got a promo inside the ring. Not backstage. Not on the post show. Even without Roman Reigns. A serious promo on Brock Lesnar on RAW. Inside the ring. Yes, indeed, miracles do happen sometimes. So, I’m writing this little review to enjoy the moment and treasure this glimpse of right booking. Enjoy!

Brock Lesnar soon enough gets to know everything about Moxicity

Since the main focus of WWE is now on the WWE World Heavyweight Championship #1 contendership match, I wasn’t about to write about this episode of RAW. But I’m doing it anyway – even if it’s a little shorter than usual – because WWE finally let Dean Ambrose say something meaningful in a longer promo inside the ring without Boring Reigns by his side. So, this seldom occasion has to be treasured on this very blog. You’ve got the video on top, right next here is my transcription:

“Who you’re calling a nut job, Porky? Well, I’ve never been in the lair of a beast before – it’s cozy. Before I came out here, I said to myself, I said, ‘Self, this may be a really bad idea’. And despite what I may look right now, the way it may look right now, I may look crazy but let me assure you, I ain’t crazy and I ain’t stupid and I ain’t scared of you. But I do respect you. I’ve got all the respect in the world for you, Brock.

That’s why I wanted to come out here and tell you face to face, I wanted to tell you, I wanted to look into your eyes, stand eye to eye with The Beast and tell you, I want the title. I want the title so bad, the WWE World Heavyweight Championship so bad, I’m gonna fight my own brother for it. And I’m gonna fight you for it. Do I wanna fight you? No, not really. Who would? I know the beating that you’re gonna give me at Fastlane; I know the beating that Roman Reigns is gonna give me at Fastlane; you aren’t gonna sell me on it. Take me to Suplex City, baby!

You can drop me on my head a thousand times. You can throw me through the wall. You can suplex me over and over and up and down all around this ring. I hope you’re prepared to give me the worst beating, a worst beating that you’ve ever given anybody in your life. And that’s gonna be, that’s gonna be pretty bad. But I am the Iron Man of the WWE. I prove it every single night. And I will drag my broken body to WrestleMania and I will take that title away from Triple H! Out of respect, I thought I just come out here and tell you that. Sorry, Paul, I just kinda wanna see what all the fuss was about.”

When Dean Ambrose was finished and left the ring, some people seemed to be confused. These people were booing Dean Ambrose. And they might have thought: but Brock Lesnar is the good guy, isn’t he? It was just teased by Paul Heyman that he would do something against the Wyatts. And those guys are definitely heels. I cheered Brock before but now Dean Ambrose talked shit to Brock, so I need to boo Dean Ambrose, right?

I mean, WWE usually acts like they think all WWE fans must be completely stupid. But now they are serving such a complex story, so of course those stupid fans are confused. What did you expect? Or was this actually the first glimpse of a slow Dean Ambrose heel turn? I mean, finally? Could it really happen after almost two years of teasing by WWE and hoping by fans?

Do you really think it could happen this time?

Later on, Dean Ambrose was called into Stephanie McMahon’s office together with Boring Reigns. And after a little chit-chat, Stephanie McMahon asked Dean Ambrose if he really wanted to be remembered as Reigns’ sidekick. To which Dean Ambrose replied that – first of all – Reigns would be his sidekick.

Another teaser. Yeah. I bet all the Ambreigns fans collectively collapsed at this statement. But Dean Ambrose always did anything for his “brother”. He never complained about helping the big star of the company. He always enjoyed of being in the shadow of the guy who’s the far more inferior wrestler than him, didn’t he? And now he calls Reigns his sidekick! Shocking!

There has to be a Dean Ambrose heel turn at Fastlane, right?

Wrong! And why? Because WWE teases it so hard that it really hurts when it doesn’t happen. Dean Ambrose is in that Triple Threat match to get the pin. From Reigns. So Brock Lesnar doesn’t have to take the pin. But like it was before, WWE has to tease a little tension between the “brothers”, so a hard fight against each other somehow makes sense. That’s the only reason. Definitely not for an Ambrose heel turn. As unfortunate as it is.

Don’t get me wrong. I’d embrace that with open arms and a broadly smiling face. But it’s not going to happen. At least we got this great promo. And I’m glad for it. I also liked the part that Brock Lesnar played. The more Dean Ambrose told him, the more Brock Lesnar enjoyed it. He didn’t take Dean Ambrose serious at all. But while Paul Heyman was initially laughing, he was plain serious at the end. If this was played out at NXT, this story would be unfolded like Bayley vs Charlotte or Bayley vs Sasha Banks. It would be all about respect and Dean Ambrose wanting to be taken seriously.

Maybe it’s this what WWE is teasing. Reigns will win at Fastlane, there’s no doubt about it. But the storyline with Dean Ambrose vs Brock Lesnar could start right there. Brock Lesnar won’t be seen much until WrestleMania. So Dean Ambrose could carry this storyline on his own, demanding a one-on-one match against The Beast at the biggest stage. Lesnar might be a little impressed after the Triple Threat match at Fastlane but wants Dean Ambrose to further prove himself. So, he needs to defend his Intercontinental Championship again and finally Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman give in to grant Dean Ambrose his match at WrestleMania. He’d probably have to lose that match but could also earn the respect of Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman.

You know that things are gonna be really bad when WWE starts to get their ideas from Tumblr

At least Dean Ambrose was taken a little bit more seriously by WWE when he didn’t have to come out to the Shield’s music together with Reigns through the audience but to his own music through the usual entrance. At least.

This tag team match of them against Kofi Kingston and Big E from The New Day – of course with Xavier Woods and the trombone on ringside, also with Paul Heyman on commentary – lasted for 17:43 minutes and saw Dean Ambrose got a lot of beating, including a spanking by Big E (oh, dear!) plus Reigns playing Superman. I was slightly surprised that in the end Dean Ambrose got the win with Dirty Deeds on Kofi Kingston. But he also had to take an F5 by Brock Lesnar who made his way inside the ring after the match was won for Dean Ambrose and Reigns. Dean Ambrose only had to take the F5 because The New Day attacked him and Reigns. But Brock Lesnar was still smiling.

So, maybe Dean Ambrose confronting Brock Lesnar was just done to get a bit more depth to this Triple Threat match. Maybe this is already the set-up for Dean Ambrose vs Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania. But also this vaguely teased Dean Ambrose vs Chris Jericho feud for the Intercontinental Championship could still be on as well as a 4-on-1 handicap match of Brock Lesnar against The Wyatt Family.